Overview
- Martin Lewis reiterates the ‘4pm rule’, advising households to open curtains for daytime solar gain and close them at sunset, with fleece-lined or thermal curtains to keep warmth in and a reminder to use fire‑resistant linings.
- Home advice site All the Home says natural sunlight can lift room temperatures by up to 10C, and a daily routine of opening then closing curtains helps retain heat and trim evening reliance on central heating.
- Lewis urges a ‘1 degree challenge’ to turn thermostats down by 1C, with potential savings of about 10% on heating bills and WHO guidance that 18C is adequate for healthy adults.
- He also recommends lowering a combi boiler’s flow temperature to around 60C, a change his examples suggest can save roughly £100 a year without reducing comfort.
- Trade and consumer experts highlight quick fixes such as bleeding radiators, using reflective panels, sealing draughts and hanging door curtains, alongside longer‑term steps like loft insulation, hot‑water cylinder jackets and window upgrades, with cylinder insulation estimated to save up to £200 a year.